Chapter VII Limitation of Action
第七章 诉讼时效
Article 135 Except as otherwise stipulated by law, the limitation of action regarding applications to a people's court for protection of civil rights shall be two years.
第一百三十五条 向人民法院请求保护民事权利的诉讼时效期间为二年，法律另有规定的除外。
Article 136 The limitation of action shall be one year in cases concerning the following:
第一百三十六条 下列的诉讼时效期间为一年：
(1) claims for compensation for bodily injuries;
（一）身体受到伤害要求赔偿的；
(2) sales of substandard goods without proper notice to that effect;
（二）出售质量不合格的商品未声明的；
(3) delays in paying rent or refusal to pay rent;
（三）延付或者拒付租金的；
or (4) loss of or damage to property left in the care of another person.
（四）寄存财物被丢失或者损毁的。
Article 137 A limitation of action shall begin when the entitled person knows or should know that his rights have been infringed upon. However, the people's court shall not protect his rights if 20 years have passed since the infringement. Under special circumstances, the people's court may extend the limitation of action.
第一百三十七条 诉讼时效期间从知道或者应当知道权利被侵害时起计算。但是，从权利被侵害之日起超过二十年的，人民法院不予保护。有特殊情况的，人民法院可以延长诉讼时效期间。
Article 138 If a party chooses to fulfil obligations voluntarily after the limitation of action has expired, he shall not be subject to the limitation.
第一百三十八条 超过诉讼时效期间，当事人自愿履行的，不受诉讼时效限制。
Article 139 A limitation of action shall be suspended during the last six months of the limitation if the plaintiff cannot exercise his right of claim because of force majeure or other obstacles.
第一百三十九条 在诉讼时效期间的最后六个月内，因不可抗力或者其他障碍不能行使请求权的，诉讼时效中止。
The limitation shall resume on the day when the grounds for the suspension are eliminated.
从中止时效的原因消除之日起，诉讼时效期间继续计算。
Article 140 A limitation of action shall be discontinued if suit is brought or if one party makes a claim for or agrees to fulfillment of obligations. A new limitation shall be counted from the time of the discontinuance.
第一百四十条 诉讼时效因提起诉讼、当事人一方提出要求或者同意履行义务而中断。从中断时起，诉讼时效期间重新计算。